Sent Friday, January 27, 2006 0:32 am
To +NBC News Meet the Press Questions
Subject Meet the Press non-reply on Obama and Belafonte
Dear "+NBC Meet the Press Questions,"
With all due respect, this reply is rubbish. You cite a quote buried deep in Jeff Zeleny's Chicago Tribune article "The first time around: Sen. Obama's freshman year" (December 24, 2005) that Belafonte "corresponds with Obama by telephone and e-mail," but what does this prove? Your implication is that there is some sort of personal relationship between Belafonte and Obama; do you have any other sources to back this up? Zeleny provides no information on the nature, frequency or extent of their correspondence. All the results of a LEXIS-NEXIS search of major newspapers for "Obama" and "Belafonte" turned up was that they have appeared and spoken at some of the same fundraisers and commemorative dinners.
Additionally, none of your examples of the "sound and fair" journalistic practice of "ask[ing] a political figure about comments made by a prominent supporter" have any relevance to this purported Belafonte-Obama relationship.
1) Obama has not given a presidential primary campaign speech at a university named after and/or formerly run by Harry Belafonte, as was the case with the question put to George W. Bush about Bob Jones.
2) Obama has no controversial campaign managers (neo-confederate or otherwise) who have made statements about Belafonte, as was the case with the question put to McCain about statements his campaign manager Richard Quinn made about David Duke.
3) Belafonte has never made automated phone bank campaign recordings for Obama, as was the charge put to Karl Rove regarding a Pat Robertson phone bank recording.
4) Obama has not, prior to Russert's question this past Sunday, volunteered any opinions about Belafonte for the record that I am aware of, as was the case when Tom Coburn was asked about comments he had previously volunteered about Alan Keyes.
Honestly, how stupid do you people think we are?
Still awaiting a REAL explanation from Meet The Press as to its reasons for questioning Obama about Belafonte, I remain...
----- Original Message -----
From: +NBC News Meet the Press Questions
Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 1:00 pm
Subject: Thanks for writing
> Thank you for your e-mail.
>
> The Chicago Tribune of December 25, 2005 said the following:
>
> "Harry Belafonte, the entertainer and civil rights activist,
> corresponds with [Senator] Obama by telephone and e-mail."
>
> The article continues quoting Belafonte as saying:
>
> "I think Sen. Obama is a force...We've seen so many others
> who have come to high places and have failed so miserably. I think he could
> be our exception to the rule."
>
> It is sound and fair journalism to ask a political figure about
> comments made by a prominent supporter. That same standard is
> consistently applied
> on Meet the Press. Here are just a few examples: on February 13,
> 2000, presidential candidate George W. Bush was asked about comments
> made by Bob Jones; on February 20, 2000, Sen. John McCain was asked about
> comments made by his political consultant about David Duke; on February 27, 2000,
> Karl Rove was asked about comments made by Pat Robertson; and on October 3, 2004,
> Republican Senate candidate Tom Coburn was asked about comments made by Alan
> Keyes.
>
> Thank you for writing and watching.
>
>
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